Sat.Sep 16, 2023 - Fri.Sep 22, 2023

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Why the Use of an Engagement Letter Should Never Be Considered Optional

ALPS

Engagement letters seem to be one of those documents most lawyers intellectually appreciate the value of but often underutilize. This letter simply isn’t in consistent use day to day in many firms and the excuses run the gamut. One that I often hear is “Long-term clients would be offended if we had them sign a fee agreement every time they brought in additional work.

Lawyer 104
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Ask Me Anything – Paralegal Career Edition

Paralegal Bootcamp

Navigating your career as a paralegal can come with its challenges. This paralegal career edition of Ask Me Anything will answer questions from real paralegals who have run into their own roadblocks. Whether its learning how to specialize in certain areas or facing an upcoming interview for your dream job,I’ll dive into strategies to help you overcome paralegal career obstacles that may be similar and get back on track and achieving your goals.

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4 ways to grow your new law firm without overextending yourself

ABA Journal

Branching off on your own to run a law firm is a thrilling experience. On one hand, it can be liberating to leave an established firm to create your own brand. On the other hand, knowing that everything rests on your shoulders can be overwhelming in the early stages of establishing your business. Whether you started a firm because you wanted a better work-life balance or because you were tired of working for someone else, every firm leader eventually asks themselves: “What can I do to grow my fi

Law Firm 107
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Is It Legal? Lots of Legal Software Isn’t Original, But That’s Okay

NCBA Law Practice Management Blog

I’ve got some surprising news: some lawyer didn’t invent the idea of CRM software. Neither were the relational databases that serve as the backbone for law practice management softwares built for law firms. But, that’s okay. Because lots of software is derivative – including within the legal vertical, where there are uncountable numbers of copycats of Clio and RocketMatter , which introduced the first cloud-based case management softwares to lawyers.

Legal 147
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Trial Prep: What Attorneys Really Want (And How to Deliver It)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Get ready to uncover what attorneys really need from you when it comes to trial prep in this new webinar! Attorney and law professor, Joe Stephens, J.D., will share proven techniques for anticipating attorney needs, organizing critical documents, and transforming complex information into compelling case presentations. Key Learning Objectives: Organization That Makes Sense 🎯 Learn how to structure and organize case materials in ways that align with how attorneys actually work and think.

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Harnessing ChatGPT: A Primer for Lawyers

Attorney at Work

Mark C. Palmer | Q: "How can I show my firm that using generative AI shouldn’t be intimidating and can be done within ethical guidelines?" The post Harnessing ChatGPT: A Primer for Lawyers appeared first on Attorney at Work.

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More Trending

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Death Of Chevron Deference Would 'Shock' System, Feds Say

Law 360

The federal government on Friday fought to save a decades-old U.S. Supreme Court doctrine that instructs lower courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous laws, telling the justices it would be a "convulsive shock to the legal system" if the high court were to strike it down.

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South Carolina to resume death penalty via lethal injection after 12 years

JURIST

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (DOC) filed a motion on Tuesday informing the South Carolina Supreme Court that it obtained a drug to carry out the death penalty through lethal injection. The last time South Carolina executed a prisoner was in May 2011 by lethal injection. Since then, the state halted executions because pharmacies refused to sell the state the drugs, knowing they would be used for executions.

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Thoughts on Promises and Challenges of AI in Legal after Yesterday’s AI Summit at Harvard Law School

LawSites

Yesterday, I attended the Harvard Law AI Summit organized by the Library Innovation Lab at Harvard Law School. It was a fairly intimate, invitation-only gathering of roughly 65 people, held under the Chatham House Rule, meaning that participants were free to use the information we received, but we agreed not to disclose the identity or affiliation of the speakers or participants.

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Remote General Counsel Go Extinct As In-House Legal Departments Move To ‘Hard Hybrid’ World

Above The Law

Business leaders have even asked their remote GCs to move to live closer to the office. The post Remote General Counsel Go Extinct As In-House Legal Departments Move To ‘Hard Hybrid’ World appeared first on Above the Law.

Legal 109
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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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Undisclosed Mega-Update Thread 14

EvidenceProf Blog

Last week, the State of Michigan agreed to pay Jeff Titus $1.03 million for his 20+ years of wrongful conviction. Given this terrific turn of events, I wanted to do an update on the status of all of the cases.

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International watchdog CIVICUS finds Bangladesh civic space is ‘repressed’

JURIST

International civil society watchdog CIVICUS added Bangladesh on Thursday to its CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist and rated the civic space in Bangladesh as “repressed,” the watchdog’s second lowest rating. The CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist rates the civic space of jurisdictions based on expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

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Sociable: Why Social Media Job Posting Services Are Great

NCBA Law Practice Management Blog

There are two primary ways that attorneys look to fill jobs in their law firms. First, they access their personal network s ; and, next: they look at traditional job posting services, like ZipRecruiter or Indeed. B ut , wh at if you strike out there ? W ha t’s ne xt? Well, social media services have job posting options, as well. And, they may be better than the traditional alternatives.

Law Firm 147
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Lawyer suspended for trying to attend 2 online CLE programs at once

ABA Journal

A lawyer’s Maine law license has been suspended after he tried to get continuing legal education credit for attending online programs that happened at the…

Education 145
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Paralegal Power Move: Your Guide to Getting the Tech Tools That Maximize Your Time

Your time is valuable—and you know the right technology could help you do even more. From document management to client communication, modern tools can transform how you track deadlines, manage cases, and support your legal team. This practical playbook shows you how to: Compare and evaluate technology vendors Understand all costs and ROI potential Build a compelling presentation Handle common objections Pitch your solution like a pro Created by legal technology experts who understand how pivota

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Clarence Thomas Keeps Getting Caught With Mega Donors? Let’s Hit Him In His Pockets.

Above The Law

Funny that the ‘small government’ Koch brothers are so very close with government employees. The post Clarence Thomas Keeps Getting Caught With Mega Donors? Let’s Hit Him In His Pockets. appeared first on Above the Law.

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UK police charge five with spying for Russia

JURIST

The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced Thursday it had arrested five Bulgarian nationals on suspicion of spying for Russia. In a statement, the CPS said the five will be charged with “conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state between 30 August 2020 and 8 February 2023.” The Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division Nick Price said in

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The Social Justice Promise of Psychedelic Decriminalization

The Crime Report

Across the nation, we’ve seen an exponential expansion in attempts to pass legislation to decriminalize certain drugs–most recently psychedelics. A recent analysis of US legislation related to psychedelics found that since 2019, 25 states have considered 74 psychedelic reform bills, 10 of which were successfully enacted. By the end of 2022, there were 36 pieces of active psychedelic drug legislative initiatives, and now, a bill to legalize certain naturally occurring psychedelics in California

Legal 130
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Failure to euthanize suffering dog isn’t animal cruelty, appeals court rules

ABA Journal

An animal cruelty law does not reach a dog owner who ignored a veterinarian’s recommendation to euthanize her suffering, terminally ill dog, the Massachusetts Appeals…

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Case Study: Maximize Client Compensation by Unlocking the Power of Diminished Value

Your auto accident clients don’t realize that they have lost value in their vehicle because the insurance company covered their repairs and gave them a rental to drive until their vehicle was “brand new.” When they realize that loss in value is when they go to trade or sell their car.

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Wisconsin Congressman Busts AG Garland’s Balls About Naked Bike Ride In Madison

Above The Law

Elect a clown, expect a circus. The post Wisconsin Congressman Busts AG Garland’s Balls About Naked Bike Ride In Madison appeared first on Above the Law.

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Federal judge blocks enforcement of Texas law restricting books in schools

JURIST

A US federal judge Monday blocked the enforcement of a Texas law restricting books in schools. At issue was House Bill (HB) 900 , a bill passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbot that would require the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to create standards for “sexually explicit” materials and would prohibit schools from purchasing or possessing “sexually explicit” materials for a library.

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Mark Smolik, CLO at DHL, Announced As Friday Keynote Speaker at Upcoming KM & Innovation for Legal Conference Oct. 12-13 in NYC

LawSites

Mark Smolik , chief legal officer at DHL Supply Chain Americas, will be the keynote speaker on the second day of the Knowledge Management & Innovation for Legal Conference taking place in New York City Oct. 12 and 13. In his talk, “Winning Strategies for Winning New Business: Insights on Innovation from a Chief Legal Officer,” he will share his insights on how embracing innovation and effective knowledge management can drive new business.

Legal 125
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Federal appeals judge, 96, suspended after refusing to cooperate in mental fitness probe

ABA Journal

A 96-year-old federal appeals judge who may be experiencing “significant mental problems” has been suspended from case assignments for a year after she refused to…

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Deposition Prep Like a Pro: Insights from a Paralegal's Playbook

Speaker: Kaitlyn "The Persnickety Paralegal" Story

Deposition preparation is a critical aspect of a paralegal's role, requiring meticulous attention to detail and proactive management of the case timeline. In this session, participants will explore how effective deposition preparation not only contributes to the success of the legal team but also helps maintain a balanced workflow, minimizing last-minute crises.

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How Generative AI Is Changing The Fashion Workplace

Above The Law

Is AI coming for fashion jobs? Maybe — but it will also create new ones. The post How Generative AI Is Changing The Fashion Workplace appeared first on Above the Law.

Laws 137
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China law professor raises concerns about Fukushima nuclear water discharge at UN meeting

JURIST

A Chinese law professor and human rights expert expressed concern about Japan’s nuclear water discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday. The statement took place in an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights. During the dialogue, Li Shouping, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology representing the China Society for Human Rights Studies , emphasized

Laws 232
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On LawNext Podcast: Lawmatics Founder Matt Spiegel On Automating CRM for Law Firms

LawSites

Stories are increasingly common of lawyers who leave law practice to start legal technology companies, but few achieve the level of success as an entrepreneur of Matt Spiegel. He was a criminal defense lawyer in 2009 when he founded MyCase , one of the earliest cloud-based law practice management companies. In 2012, he sold MyCase to AppFolio , and then left the company in 2015 to start a software company that helped organizations manage trade shows and events.

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Supreme Court Patent Petitions: Seeking Guidance on Eligibility, Inventorship, and Procedure

Patently O

by Dennis Crouch A number of petitions are pending before the Supreme Court raising interesting patent issues, although none have been granted certiorari thus far. Leading Eligibility Case : In next week’s long conference (Sept 26), the court will consider what I see as the current leading case of CareDx Inc. v. Natera, Inc. , No. 22-1066. The case focuses on the question of whether the patent covering a new biologic diagnostic method was properly invalidated as directed to a natural pheno

Court 119
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Pricing for Profit: How to Set, Negotiate, and Succeed

Speaker: Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader

In today’s competitive market, pricing is more than just a number — it’s the cornerstone of profitability. The right pricing strategy ensures that you capture the true value of your offering, paving the way for sustainable growth and long-term success. Join Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader, in this exclusive session where he will explore how a well-crafted pricing approach balances customer perception with business objectives, creating a powerful tool for securing both competitive advantage a